Error: MODIFY FILE failed. Size is greater than MAXSIZE

Resolving 'MODIFY FILE failed. Size is greater than MAXSIZE' in SQL Server

Understand and resolve the common SQL Server error 'MODIFY FILE failed. Size is greater than MAXSIZE' which occurs when database files attempt to grow beyond their defined limits.

The error message MODIFY FILE failed. Size is greater than MAXSIZE is a common issue encountered by SQL Server administrators and developers. It indicates that a database file (either data or log) has reached its maximum configured size and cannot grow further, preventing new data or log entries from being written. This can lead to application downtime, transaction failures, and overall database unavailability if not addressed promptly. This article will explain the causes of this error and provide practical solutions to resolve it.

Understanding the MAXSIZE Limit

Every data file (.mdf, .ndf) and log file (.ldf) in a SQL Server database has a MAXSIZE property. This property defines the upper limit to which the file can grow. When a file attempts to auto-grow beyond this MAXSIZE, SQL Server throws the MODIFY FILE failed error. This limit can be explicitly set during file creation or modification, or it can default to a specific value (e.g., 2TB for data files, 2TB for log files in SQL Server 2012 and later, or unlimited if not specified). However, 'unlimited' still means limited by available disk space.

flowchart TD
    A[SQL Server Operation (e.g., INSERT, UPDATE)] --> B{Database File Needs to Grow?}
    B -->|Yes| C{Current Size < MAXSIZE?}
    C -->|Yes| D[File Grows Successfully]
    C -->|No| E["Error: MODIFY FILE failed. Size is greater than MAXSIZE"]
    E --> F[Operation Fails]
    B -->|No| D

Flowchart illustrating when the MAXSIZE error occurs during a database operation.

Identifying the Affected File and Current Settings

Before attempting to resolve the error, it's crucial to identify which specific file (data or log) is causing the issue and what its current MAXSIZE and FILEGROWTH settings are. You can retrieve this information using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or by querying system views.

USE YourDatabaseName;
GO
SELECT
    name AS FileName,
    physical_name AS FilePath,
    size / 128.0 AS CurrentSizeMB,
    CASE max_size
        WHEN 0 THEN 'No Growth'
        WHEN -1 THEN 'Unlimited'
        ELSE CAST(max_size / 128.0 AS VARCHAR(20)) + ' MB'
    END AS MaxSize,
    CASE growth
        WHEN 0 THEN 'Fixed Size'
        WHEN -1 THEN 'Unlimited'
        ELSE CAST(growth / 128.0 AS VARCHAR(20)) + ' MB / ' + CAST(growth AS VARCHAR(20)) + ' %'
    END AS FileGrowth,
    type_desc AS FileType
FROM sys.database_files;
GO

Query to retrieve file properties for a specific database.

Resolving the Error: Solutions

There are several approaches to resolve the MODIFY FILE failed. Size is greater than MAXSIZE error. The best solution depends on the specific circumstances and the underlying cause of the file growth.

1. Increase the MAXSIZE of the affected file

This is often the most straightforward solution. You can increase the MAXSIZE property of the data or log file to allow it to grow further. Ensure you have sufficient disk space available before doing this. You can set it to a larger specific size or to UNLIMITED.

2. Add a new data file to the filegroup

If the issue is with a data file, you can add a new data file to the existing filegroup. This distributes the data across multiple files, allowing the database to grow without hitting the MAXSIZE limit of a single file. This is particularly useful for very large databases.

3. Shrink the transaction log (if applicable)

If the error is related to the transaction log file (.ldf), it might be excessively large due to infrequent log backups or a long-running transaction. Performing a transaction log backup (for databases in Full or Bulk-Logged recovery models) and then shrinking the log file can free up space. Note: Shrinking data files is generally discouraged due to performance implications, but shrinking log files is a common maintenance task.

4. Free up disk space

Even if MAXSIZE is set to UNLIMITED, the file cannot grow if there is no physical disk space available. Check the drive where the database files reside and free up space if necessary. This might involve deleting old backups, temporary files, or moving other non-essential data.

5. Review and optimize database operations

Investigate why the database files are growing so rapidly. Are there inefficient queries, large data imports, or unoptimized indexing strategies? Addressing the root cause of excessive growth can prevent future occurrences of this error.

-- Example: Increase MAXSIZE for a data file to 50 GB
ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName
MODIFY FILE
(NAME = N'YourDataFileName',
 MAXSIZE = 51200MB);
GO

-- Example: Set MAXSIZE for a log file to UNLIMITED
ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName
MODIFY FILE
(NAME = N'YourLogFileName',
 MAXSIZE = UNLIMITED);
GO

-- Example: Add a new data file to the PRIMARY filegroup
ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName
ADD FILE
(NAME = N'YourDataFileName2',
 FILENAME = N'D:\SQLData\YourDatabaseName_Data2.ndf',
 SIZE = 1024MB,
 MAXSIZE = 51200MB,
 FILEGROWTH = 1024MB)
TO FILEGROUP [PRIMARY];
GO

-- Example: Shrink transaction log (after a log backup)
USE YourDatabaseName;
GO
CHECKPOINT;
GO
DBCC SHRINKFILE (N'YourLogFileName', 1024); -- Shrink to 1 GB
GO

SQL commands to modify file properties, add files, and shrink log files.